GenMedicine—a new word for me. It was forged through conversation and connection with wise elders. Like a strong seed, its shoot sprung from the deep.
Pow. There it was.
Even saying it sends a ripple through my being. GenMedicine plays a powerful role in my life.
My definition? It’s the gentle practice of healing and restoration, respecting the connections between past, present, and future generations. This flow of wisdom stems from ancestral traditions and sees the potential for healing together over time.
At the core of GenMedicine is being seen and heard.
It’s a paying tribute to what’s right in front of us.
A reminder to be. Not just do.
A feeling that we-you-all matter.
In my morning contemplation, I share my inklings:
All this talk of GenMedicine is causing an idea baby to stir.
GenMedicine Gatherings: A series of gatherings where we catalyze, simmer and infuse a medicine exchange across ages.
When I brought this up to clients, collaborators and friends, they all leaned in.
A couple shared their reflections below.
Jude Jackson—writer, artist, deep thinker shares how GenMedicine can connect us all with empathy, reciprocity, empathy and wonder. Her words landed.
David Penberg was the first to generate the word GenMedicine in conversation with another wise elder Phil Moore. I connected these perceptive and loving men with each other in my Hope glue way.
David shares what GenMedicine Gatherings meant to him here:
“Genmedicine gatherings: holistic antidotes for all the sorrow and anger that riddles post pandemic America.
Genmedicine, as a counterpoint to isolation and division, ways to heal and restore the broken social and spiritual bonds that progress has rendered at risk.
Genmedicine, generational and generative occasions woven with the power of music, the spoken word, and conversation.
Genmedicine, anchored in storied spaces by the magic of learning to listen to and wonder with each other.”
Authors, thinkers, humans on GenMedicine
Humans have been writing and considering the intergenerational transfer for as long as we’ve been human. I’m sure of it. We stand with many greats. I’ve shared a few with you below.
Rachel Naomi Remen:
"Perhaps the secret of living well is not in having all the answers, but in pursuing unanswerable questions in good company."
Remen's insight resonates deeply with the spirit of generational medicine gatherings. Here, people gather not to find all the answers, but to embrace life's mysteries together. It's about sharing wisdom, supporting each other, and finding solace in good company as we navigate life's unanswerable questions.
Malidoma Patrice Somé:
"The well-being of a people is like a tree. Its roots are in the past, its trunk in the present, its branches in the future."
Somé's analogy highlights the interconnectedness of past, present, and future. Just like a tree's roots draw nourishment from the past to support its growth in the present and future, honoring ancestral wisdom and traditions nourishes our well-being today, fostering strength and resilience for generations to come.
Sharon Blackie:
"We are not separate from the land on which we walk. We are the land, and the land is us."
Blackie's insight beautifully articulates the deep connection between humanity and the earth. In the context of generational medicine, this acknowledgment underscores the importance of re-establishing our bonds with nature and ancestral landscapes. By recognizing that we are not separate from the land but rather interconnected with it, we open ourselves to the healing and restoration that the natural world offers.
Bayo Akomolafe:
"What if the end of the world as we know it is not the end of the world, but a portal into something far more beautiful than we can imagine?"
Akomolafe's thought-provoking question challenges us to reconsider our perspectives on change and transformation. Instead of fearing the unknown, it encourages us to view moments of upheaval as gateways to new and unforeseen possibilities. In the realm of generational medicine, this idea invites us to embrace uncertainty and see times of crisis as opportunities for collective growth and renewal.
Resmaa Menakem:
"Our bodies remember so much, even if our minds have forgotten."
Menakem's wisdom reminds us that our bodies carry deep memories, even when our conscious minds may have forgotten. This insight underscores the significance of addressing generational trauma not just intellectually, but also through somatic and ancestral healing practices. By listening to the wisdom stored within our bodies and ancestral lineage, we can embark on a journey of profound healing and transformation.
Thich Nhat Hanh:
"We are here to awaken from our illusion of separateness."
Thich Nhat Hanh's profound insight reminds us that our purpose is to transcend the illusion of separateness and recognize our interconnectedness with all beings. This teaching resonates deeply with the principles of generational medicine, which emphasize the interconnected nature of existence. By awakening to our inherent unity with others and the Earth, we can cultivate healing and well-being not only for ourselves but for the entire web of life.
My Invitation For You
I want to offer you a couple of questions to take with you this week.
Ponder them.
Consider activating them—and follow your own lead to make them happen!
Who can you learn from that is younger and older from you? How can you set up a time to connect with them? Perhaps it’s your children, their friends or younger relatives or mentees? Maybe it’s an older relative, an elder in your community or in your life that has always sparkled with good stories?
Who can you thank for their impact on you? Remember, be specific about what or how they’ve helped you. Sometimes you think they know. Most of the time they don’t. And even if they do, they will love to hear it again.
For those who long to step into a magical, safe, intentional space for GenMedicine Gatherings this spring and summer, drop me a line here: hope@hopepaterson.ca. Email me : YES GenMedicine Gatherings: tell me more!
Reads & Recs
Authenticity transcends show and tell - Peter Attia & Walter Green on The impact of gratitude, serving others, embracing mortality, and living intentionally
Walter Green’s life project - Just Say It Now: Expressing gratitude solidifies relationships and eliminates the prospect of having regrets for things you might have said. It releases warmth. It can even change lives. We hope that you’re inspired to join us.
Impermanence has been on my mind lately. Pema Chodron’s latest book How We Live Is How We Die: her teachings on the bardos—a Tibetan term referring to a state of transition, including what happens between this life and the next—reveal their power and relevance at each moment of our lives. She also offers practical methods for transforming life’s most challenging emotions about change and uncertainty into a path of awakening and love.
I have learned much about jumping in life from my elders. “When you change the world around you changes”. Join me and my dad for a conversation about learning from each other.
In praise of tears. I count myself fortunate to have a number of people around, of different generations, that let tears flow easily. When it’s time, I can literally hear the pipes surge down the hallway of their expression. My friend Chance, Phil, Jill and bros James, son Alfie, and dad Rob all have their telltale signs of tears. And then the dam springs water—signalling deep feels. Witnessing them cry with ease never ceases to amaze me. I don’t have this switch. Sign. I’m working on letting go into the tears with every year. It’s magic.
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See you next week. If you enjoyed this read, please invite your friends.
In your corner,
With love,
Hope
Thank you for your thoughtful, insightful, and beautiful work.
There is a great deal to ponder and learn from in this very informative post. I am particularly enjoying the conversation with your father.
Beautifully crafted article and it allows me to ponder all the ways I am enlightened and supercharged by the younger and older people who bookend my life! In different cultures, the wisdom that elders carry is honored, such as in Italian, Indigenous and Asian families, to name a few. My grandmother lived with me until I was in my 20's and her listening and love continues to sustain me.